Volvo EX30 Plus Twin Motor Performance (2025) Review -
Electric Vehicles (EVs) may have become more commonplace and far less topical than in the years preceding, but some manufacturers are still determined that electrification is the way forward. The Volvo EX30 shows how Volvo is committed to an electrified lineup and has, in the process, created a rather enjoyable mobility solution.
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Consumer sentiments seldom remain stagnant. If you're lucky, you build a reputation that lasts decades. Toyota, for instance, is known for its reliability, whereas Alfa Romeo is well, not so much. Volvo is still regarded as the best choice for your safety and that of your family. In the last few decades we've seen the rise of the SUV and its domination of the automotive landscape. Manufacturers have had to adjust. The same can be said for the EV craze of a few years ago. Both legislative and consumer demands saw an increase in the acceptance of electrified vehicles, with manufacturers pivoting to what was deemed the future of motoring.
Related: Volvo EX30 (2024) - Unsheathed for South Africa
Volvo Cars took a hard charge and set their sights on a full-electric lineup of offerings by the year 2030. Initially, we all thought that this was a bold move and optimistic at best. It seems we were right because, at the end of last year, Volvo announced that it'd shifted that target to 2040 but still aims to have every vehicle they offer connected by a cable, be it as a hybrid or as a full EV. The benefit of their ambitious objective is that they have partnered with some of the best in the world to develop and produce EVs and EV technology. This is clearly evident in the Volvo EX30 Plus Twin Motor Performance I was able to spend some time with.
Styling
The EX30 is a striking vehicle, there's no doubt about that, and many agree. The EX30 has won the prestigious Red Dot award for design, an accolade that is well deserved. This is not the only award it has garnered, and its trophy case holds awards including Car Design award 2024, The Sun Car of the Year, World Urban Car from World Car of the Year, the Small SUV/Crossover of the Year award from the Sunday Times, and the Eco Warrior of the Year award from Top Gear magazine.
Where we're more accustomed to variations on existing models when presented with an EV, the EX30 embraces the flexibility provided by the electric drivetrain and blends that with a form that still manages to look at home amongst regular traffic. There's no front grille, but the designers ensured that there's a seamless transition between the front end of the car and the necessary features. The LED headlights with familiar Thor's Hammer DRL signature meld seamlessly into the leading edge of the EX30 and hover above a lower apron section that carries traditional styling cues and black accents.
The large, 19-inch wheels and short overhangs give the EX30 a stocky, commanding stance on the road, with the upswept rear window line and tapered roofline meeting to create an athletic look that is rather sporty. The simple but attractive rear of the EX30 showcases C-shaped LED taillights and is connected by a black trim element that encircles the Volvo name. It's immediately identifiable, and where many rear ends let the overall design down, the EX30 is possibly best viewed from the rear.
Space & Interior
While I'm all for an enveloping and cosseting cockpit, I can truly appreciate the spartan and spacious nature of the EX30. Not too unlike Mary Poppins' handbag, the EX30 is far more cavernous than the external dimensions would lead you to believe, the flexibility of the EV drivetrain allowing for generous room for those longer in the leg. The EX30 is also devoid of clutter. Ordinarily, I would scoff at this, but Volvo has worked exceptionally hard at ensuring that logic prevails and that key controls are still where you expect them. For those coming from an older vehicle, this will take some adjustment, but the time I spent in the Jaecoo J6 prepared me for this simplistic approach. It is true, you do get accustomed to it and end up loving the execution.
The EX30 is devoid of a driver display cluster, and all information is presented on the main control screen. In an EV, you're not monitoring revs, nor are you concerned about a heat gauge, so why not simply show the speed as a large readout at the top of the screen? It works, believe it or not. Selecting drive is done in a Mercedes-Benz fashion on the right-hand stalk, and there's no need to push a button to start it either; it's simply On as soon as you unlock it. The fusion of electric and traditional works in this instance.
The EX30 offers up a decent 318-litre boot with a flexible seating arrangement to grow that to 904-litre with the seats folded forward. Rear legroom is generous as well but taller individuals may find the sloping roofline to be somewhat claustrophobic.
Comfort & Convenience
The Twin Motor variant of the EX30 is the most sporty of them all. As such, the EX30 Plus Twin Motor Performance rides a little firmer than you may be expecting, but this is confidence-inspiring and it's certainly no deal breaker. The ride is still very compliant and with the controls set to their lightest, the action of driving it is near effortless.
95% of the controls are housed in the large, 12.3-inch infotainment screen, which runs a Google-based operating system. While this did cause some issues with the wireless Apple CarPlay connection, the system is fast and fairly intuitive, and the menu hierarchy is largely simplified over earlier iterations. The biggest takeaway was the audio system, which replicates a home audio soundbar, spanning the width of the cabin and resting below the windscreen. The sound reproduction is impressive and will have you hunting for your favourite tracks so that you can enjoy them like never before.
Smart storage systems, including a retractable centre console, allow loose items to be easily hidden from sight but never far from hand. Whether it's in the aforementioned retractable centre console with its modular cup holders or beneath the two-tier lower console, the cabin can remain clean and uncluttered. A centrally-mounted glovebox is able to hold larger items too.
Performance
3.6-seconds. That's all it takes for the Volvo EX30 to get to 100 km/h from a standstill. This compact crossover is an absolute rocketship! Paired with the linear acceleration from any speed, the Volvo EX30 becomes quite the weapon when you're feeling racy or even if you simply need to pass slower-moving traffic. The dual synchronous motors provide 315 kW of power and a stout 543 Nm to help make this the fastest-accelerating Volvo on the market.
The EX30 carries a little heft, as all EVs do, tipping the scales at 1960 kg. Despite this, the EX30 feels nimble and agile and has no problem slowing down either with excellent performance from the brakes.
Fuel Economy
The EX30 is fitted with a 69 kWh battery to provide a claimed 460 km of range. 430 km is a comfortable estimate, though, and I regularly saw similar when using it in the regular drive mode. The 400 V architecture allows for DC fast charging with a 60 kW charger able to charge the battery from 0 to 100% in approximately 70 minutes. A home charger with an output of 7 kW will see it charged in roughly 10 hours.
Volvo EX30 colours and price guide
Safety
There's no shortage of safety systems in the Volvo EX30. A comprehensive driver assistance system features automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, intersection auto brake, adaptive cruise control, and blind spot monitoring. The small cluster on top of the steering wheel features sensors that will monitor your facial cues and eyes, using complex algorithms to alert you when you're not being attentive or are feeling drowsy, recommending that you take a break.
In addition, the EX30 is fitted with 7 airbags.
Price
You will need to part with R1 114 000 to get behind the wheel of the Volvo EX30 Plus Twin Motor Performance, but this will get you a host of additional benefits at the same time. Not only does the Volvo EX30 come with a standard 5-year/100 000km warranty and maintenance plan, an 8-year battery warranty, and a 5-year/unlimited mileage roadside assistance, but you will also get the following:
- R12 000 charging voucher, valid for 24 months
- R7 500 discount on a GridCars Wallbox installation
- 36 months of connectivity with 10GB of Vodacom data per month.
Competitors
When considering the Volvo EX30, one should also consider the likes of the Mercedes-Benz EQA and BMW iX1, which both come in at roughly the same price. None of these offer the outright thrill factor that the EX30 does, but may be suited to those who are struggling to adapt to the minimalist approach taken with the Volvo recipe.
Verdict
There's not much to knock the EX30 on; I thoroughly enjoyed my time with it and rank it as one of the best EVs on the market today. The styling and design are fresh and modern, with a build quality that one expects from Volvo, even if the EX30's roots are Chinese. Having sampled nearly all the EVs on offer today, the Volvo is a class leader and will dictate how manufacturers approach future EV products. The pricing is fair, and the running costs are negligible in this day and age where everything requires a subscription. I'd happily park one in my driveway.
